Sterling Silver Jewelry Trunk Show at TraillWorks

In anticipation of our one-day trunk show on Saturday, featuring jewelry artist, Liesl Carlson, my associate, Corrie, spent some time getting to know Liesl a little bit better. Liesl has been selling her jewelry at TraillWorks since I opened last year. She and I met during my residency at Peters Valley in 2008. Soon after I left Peters Valley, I learned that she was pregnant, at the same time as me. But, I didn't get to know her very well until her husband, Steve Butler, exhibited his "Breadside Tables" at my old studio down the street, after we both had our sons.

At the time I learned I was relocating my studio to 214 Spring Street where I had more space and the capability to display jewelry, I contacted Liesl and invited her to sell her work. I immediately fell in love and have not only worn her pieces at a variety of functions, but also now own her jewelry. Liesl now lives in Massachusetts with Steve and their two-year old son, Quinn.

Liesl at work in her sunny studio in Massachusetts

So, without further adieu, here's a tid-bit more about Liesl and her jewelry-making. You can meet her in person on Saturday from 3 - 8pm at TraillWorks.

Q: How do you choose the stones used in your pieces, and do they “guide” the direction of the piece?

A:  Well let's see. Sometimes a stone or object do guide a piece, and sometimes a piece "asks" for a stone. On my bench I always have stones, pottery shards, beads, and some hollow form pieces waiting for the right time or the proper "magic" of the pieces to match up.

Q: What is your work process; how do you begin and how do you know when you are finished with a piece or a collection?

A: I really let the metal tell me what it would like to be. I am really drawn to circles. I also love texture and have a vast collection of hammers that I use to create texture. I also use a rolling mill to imprint texture. I love using all kinds of things from steel mesh to vintage lace ribbon. My recycled group is a freeing process because I really have no control of how it comes out, I can only guide the shape. But it is organic. I have yet to finish a collection, I take pauses.

Q: Where do you draw inspiration: artists, places, colors, sounds, etc? 

A: Inspiration. That is a tough one. New England winters is one - with its starkness and bare trees and the sparkle or reflection off the snow and ice. People is one -  everything has to feel good. Lately I have a love of medical prints from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. I find them fascinating, and I am working on how to incorporate that into a new collection. 

Q: Do you work in any other media?

A: I also do stained glass. I unfortunately have not had the space to set up since we moved back to Mass. I took my first class in 2003.

Q: What are your future goals/plans for your jewelry?

A: I plan on starting to show in the next year or two. Also I would like to teach. My husband, Steve Butler, and I have formed The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts, a multi-media craft school that is looking for a permanent home; we have several locations in mind. It is all very exciting. 

Corrie and I would like to thank Liesl for taking the time to let us know a little bit more about her work, and all the preparation she's done in travelling to New Jersey this weekend. TraillWorks would also like to thank "Art Partner", Trinity Restaurant, for providing refreshments.

If you're in the Northern NJ area this weekend, it's a great opportunity to plan to visit TraillWorks. And, if you want to make full day of your visit, there is a self-guided, free studio art tour in Sussex County earlier in the day, Common Thread Studios Art Tour.

I'll leave you with a preview of her display setup for Saturday, from Liesl's blog, along with the necklace Liesl has made that patrons can enter to win! Hope to see you on Saturday.

Liesl's mock setup in her home for Saturday's trunk show.

Sterling Silver Hollow Form Circle Pendant on 16" rubber cord by Liesl Carlson. Saturday's Trunk Show door prize.

Jewelry News at TraillWorks

Jasper, Unakite and Sterling Silver Bracelet, ©2010 Marty Traill Schaeffer,

$150 @ TraillWorks

Guest artist, Marty Traill Schaeffer, just created a new piece available at TraillWorks. It's a gorgeous beaded bracelet, showcasing a large Jasper stone, surrounded by two smaller Jasper stones, two Unakite stones and sterling silver tube beads, spacers and clasp. The main stone features an olive green background with traces of red and naples yellow.

Jasper is a beautiful stone that has been used in jewelry and referenced since ancient times by the Greeks, Minoans, Assyrians, Persians, and Jews. According to one site, Jasper has healing properties and the ability to provide courage, protection and justice. This bracelet has an excellent weight, with a very grounding feel to it. I know you will fall in love with it.

Liesl Carlson, another guest jewelry artist whose work I've featured in a previous blog post, has just been featured in the book, 30 Minute Earrings, launched this month by Lark Books. Carlson's earrings were selected for the main image gracing the book's cover. Congratulations to her - she's a very creative and talented jewelry artist and am honored to represent her at TraillWorks. Stop in to see her collection at the gallery and learn more about Liesl by catching her blog.

Bernadette Blaney's work, the "the glass lady" from Newton and former owner of Radiant Essentials, has been selling consistently to new and old collectors. Featuring fused Dichroic glass, Bernadette's pieces have an elegant modern quality. The iridescent glass is cut and layered in soft, geometric patterns, seemingly influenced by Kandinsky.


I have worn all of the artists' jewelry and know that you will find something that suits your style at TraillWorks. In the photo above, I'm wearing an omega chain necklace by Carlson and earrings by Blaney. Not pictured, was one of my mom's (Schaeffer's) bracelets on my wrist. I've been lucky enough to represent very diverse and talented studio jewelers, who also all happen to be good friends and family. If you're a studio jeweler interested in submitting work for review, please send an email to jennie@traillworks.com with two sample images of your work no larger than 3mb each @300dpi, a resume / bio / statement, and web site link.

TraillWorks is open Tuesday - Friday 12 - 6pm, Thursdays late 'til 8pm, and Saturdays 12 - 5pm.

Silver and Glass

I am pleased to announce the inclusion of jewelry to TraillWorks! I've always had an interest in unique, hand made jewelry, but never the space to sell it. With 1000 additional square feet and beautiful jewelry cases, I'm now able to do it. Meet my three jewelry artists below and stop in to see their gorgeous work in person!


Marty Traill Schaeffer, otherwise known as "mom" to me, graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in art education with a focus in metalsmithing. After a thirty-year hiatus, the artist is making jewelry again, with her debut at TraillWorks. While she is still experimenting with techniques and materials her interest lies in textured spheres, whether bowls, rings, or organic drops of silver, that accentuate natural stones and beads where incorporated.
From $20 - $110


Bernadette Blaney, owner and designer of Glassical, has been working and growing with glass for over ten years. Her work fuses Dichroic glass into exquisite pendants, brooches, earrings, barrettes and cufflinks. If you visited 214 prior to TraillWorks, you may know of Bernadette's work. She is the former owner of Radiant Essentials which used to occupy my location. She's known around Newton as "The Glass Lady".

From $18 - $95



Liesl Carlson, of central Mass, took many classes in various forms of art and craft. She took her first jewelry making class in 2005 and then quickly joined the Professional Craft Studies Program at the Worcester Center for Crafts. Liesl then moved to Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton NJ, where she took jewelry workshops and worked for Judy Neugebauer. Liesl has been in many exhibitions including Craftforms and most recently New Jersey Arts Annual: Craft. She has appeared in many publications, most notably 30 Minute Earrings from Lark Books due out in July 2010. Her jewelry, influenced by the snow-covered New England landscape, focuses on the play of texture and reflection on the silver.
From $130 - $300